03 Jul 2024

Artificial insemination (AI) programme has been hailed for improving cattle breeds.

Mr Kaje More, a farmer at Kosue lands near Maboane is one of the farmers that sings praises to the AI programme, saying it had helped him acquire better breeds.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Motokwe Agricultural Show and Horse Race on Friday, Mr More said the AI had become handy for him as he no longer worried taking care of bulls.

He said he started farming back in 2007 when he bought some cattle, but lost some due to different reasons.

Mr More said AI came handy to his agribusiness, as he did not have to spend money on bulls and their feeds.

He decided to attend the AI course at Ramatlabama to ensure that he knew what to do when, adding that performing AI on the farm was inexpensive compared to having to take heifers to government farms.

“But that came with challenges as I did not have the necessary resources and instead of waiting for them, I took my cattle to Ramoalosi farm, which also came with a lot of expenses.”

He said he later managed to buy the bull semen container and began to undertake AI on farm, which he had been doing for the past three years and has a testimony for such.

Mr More, who is also the chairperson of a farmers’ association said he was happy with the results from on farm AI and would like other farmers to pursue the idea.

He further said he had planned to invite veterinary officers to use his farm foe AI demonstration for the benefit of the farming community, especially Maboane youth so to later sell their services to farmers and earn a living.

Mr More continues to attend agricultural shows and meet other farmers so that he learnt more skills to use on the farm from them.

Mr More advise the youth to take advantage of government programmes meant to equip them with knowledge and skills before they could venture into business. ENDS